'The Walking Dead' Season 4 Comic-to-TV Comparison: "Internment"

‘The Walking Dead’ season 4 shambles out its fifth entry with Sunday’s “Internment,” but how does it hold up to the comic book continuity? Hershel struggles to keep those struck with the flu under control, while Rick attempts to improve the security of the prison fence, so what’s next for ‘The Walking Dead’ as the fourth season continues?

As AMC’s incarnation weaves in and out of storylines from the books and adds its own original characters and developments, we’ve compiled an in-depth guide for fans of the comic as well as AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ to enjoy! Check it all the comparisons we found, and let us know your thoughts on ‘The Walking Dead’ season 4 episode 5 “Internment” in the comments below!

1

The Fence Giveth

AMC/Image

AMC: Though it still remains to be seen who drove the walkers to congregate in localized groups around the perimeter, the fence finally gives at an inopportune moment, sending the undead spilling into the outer perimeter, and forcing Rick and Carl to retreat into the compound. The Walkers soon overwhelm the interior fence as well, though Rick and Carl manage to put down the surge with some well-placed automatic weapons fire. No telling how the group plans to repair the defenses of their safe haven, however.
THE COMICS: Though the fences themselves remained in tact right up to the Governor’s last assault, Rick, Michonne and Glenn did once return to the prison to find it once again overrun with the living dead. Rather than a malfunction of the fence however, the breach took place after Tyreese returned from the prison, and…forgot to close the gate behind him. Seriously.

2

Hershel Remains a Believer

AMC: Somewhat dejected from his first flu putdown, Hershel admits to Rick that he still believes a higher power at least some kind of plan through all the current madness and death, though by the hour’s end, even Hershel seems to lose a bit of faith, weeping over his bible.
THE COMICS: Though the comic Hershel endured much more traumatic losses than AMC’s rendition (try finding your twin daughters beheaded), the printed version of the character also maintained his faith, suggesting that the living dead could represent the Almighty’s plan after all, albeit with a bit of human mistranslation.

3

Creepy Lizzie is Still Creepy

AMC/Image

AMC: Apparently not taking Carol’s words to heart very well, Lizzie continually seems to underestimate the threat provided by the living dead, leading a zombified Henry as if he were a dog, believing he’d listen to her. Later, the character can be seen wiping her shoes in a pool of blood, blithely undisturbed by the action.
THE COMICS: As we’ve mentioned before, Lizzie has no direct comic counterpart, but displays traits of both the still-living Sophia and Alan’s young son Ben, who murdered his own sibling believing he’d come back like the others. Given that Carol seems ot have been removed from the equation for the moment, that might put Lizzie under Glenn and Maggie’s care, like Sophia had been in the books.

4

The Governor Returns

AMC

AMC: Despite being absent for some 8 months, Woodbury’s deposed leader is seen ominously lurking outside the prison fences, watching Rick and Carl enjoy some tasty beans. We don’t yet know his intentions, or why any plans would involve waiting outside the prison in broad daylight, but we have to imagine the character isn’t up to any good that we can see.
THE COMICS: It’s hard to gauge of any of the comic Governor’s actions have any bearing on his current machinations, but we at least know the villain could never be swayed from his desire to take the prison for himself, and get revenge on those who disfigured him in the process.

What did you think of ‘The Walking Dead’ season 4’s fifth episode “Internment”? Does the Governor’s return have you fearful for next week? Did we miss anything else from the comics you might have caught?
Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check back next week for our in-depth comic-to-TV comparison of season 4’s sixth episode, "Live Bait!"